“We had been nurturing him carefully by not playing him in every game.

“We’ve now suffered three bad knee ligament injuries on our own pitch with Jermaine twice and Jack Baldwin, but we’ve checked the surface and we’ve checked everything else, including the players’ studs. It really does seem like we’ve just been very unlucky.

“Jermaine will be back though. And better than ever. I’m convinced about that.”

McCann is likely to play 17 year-old midfielder Leo Da Silva Lopes in Anderson’s place at Sheffield United on Saturday (September 17), although he could also play Callum Chettle or Michael Bostwick in central midfield.

Posh can’t sign anyone from the Football League as a replacement as the rules governing emergency loans changed this season. Posh could sign a replacement from the National League and below.